ABSTRACT
The whole method of psycho-analysis rests on Freud’s ‘fundamental rule of psycho-analysis’, on the patient’s duty to relate everything that occurs to him in the course of the analytical hour. Under no circumstances may an exception be made to this rule, and everything that the patient—from whatever motive—endeavours to withhold, must be unrelentingly brought to light. Obsessional neurotics sometimes have recourse to the evasion of relating only senseless associations, as though deliberately misunderstanding the doctor’s request that they should recount everything, senseless things as well. Psycho-analysis discovered that nervous patients are like children and wish to be treated as such. The psycho-analyst, however, may no longer be gentle and sympathetic or downright and hard according to inclination and wait till the patient’s soul moulds itself to the doctor’s character; he must understand how to graduate his sympathy.
